Webster is a small town of about 16,000 (add 2,500 or so more in summer) in the South County region of Central Massachusetts along the Connecticut border. It was founded in 1832 by Samuel Slater, one of the initiators of the United States Industrial Revolution. There are many places to eat and a few nightlife offerings. Lake Chaubunagungamaug offers much to do in the way of water sport and leisure activities.
Understand
[edit]Webster, like most of Central Massachusetts, is the homeland of the Nipmuc peoples. A small band of the Nipmuc, Webster/Dudley Band of Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck Indians, is based out of Webster and the neighboring towns of Dudley and Thompson, Connecticut. Europeans colonized the area that is now Webster in 1713. The present-day town was incorporated on March 6, 1832; it formed out of sections of Dudley and Oxford, and a previously unassigned portion of land known as a gore. The primary founder of the town was the industrialist Samuel Slater, one of the individuals who sparked the Industrial Revolution in the United States. He named the town after the statesman Daniel Webster, who was a friend of his. Historically, Webster was thus an important textile manufacturing town. Most of the industry eventually moved out during the 20th century. By that point, Webster was a popular tourist attraction because of Lake Chaubunagungamaug, or Webster Lake, and remains so today.
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]Webster is located on I-395, which connects the town to Worcester in the north as well as the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) for travelers coming from east or west. I-395 runs south into Connecticut all the way to I-95 in New London. You can also enter from MA Rt 197 from the south in Dudley, from the north by MA Rt 12 from Oxford, or from the south by the same route from Putnam, Connecticut, going through Thompson. You can also take MA Rt 193 from Thompson into Webster, where that route terminates.
By public transportation
[edit]Webster can be reached from Worcester using the Worcester Regional Transit Authority's Route 42 Bus.
By plane
[edit]The nearest commercial airport is Worcester Regional Airport in Worcester, about 25 minutes away from Webster. Add 5-10 minutes if heading somewhere in Dudley. It has daily service to JFK International Airport in New York as well as occasional flights to destinations in Florida.
Get around
[edit]
By car
[edit]Webster is easily navigated by car. Most attractions are located either on or close to the main thoroughfares (Route 12 and Route 16). Main Street and East Main Street can be congested during the morning and mid and late afternoon, but otherwise traffic is usually not a problem.
By public transportation
[edit]Parts of Webster and Dudley can be accessed by bus using either the Worcester Regional Transit Authority Route 42 or Webster-Dudley-Southbridge Shuttle. These routes serve downtown Webster and Main St leading in either direction, but not much else.
On foot
[edit]Downtown Webster and the neighboring bits of Dudley are walkable, but the two towns cover a fairly large land area and reaching places outside of downtown on foot will require lengthy walks in areas without any pedestrian infrastructure.
See
[edit]- 1 Samuel Slater Experience, 31 Ray St, Webster, ☏ +1 508-461-2955. Museum focused on textile manufacturing and the life of Samuel Slater, one of the fathers of the Industrial Revolution.
- 2 French River Park (Webster Riverwalk), 39 Davis St (the footpath begins off of Davis Street, a short walk from Main Street). A small park and footpath along the French River.
Do
[edit]- 1 Lake Chaubunagungamaug (Webster Lake). The beautiful spring-fed lake was a critical fishing site the Nipmuc of the area and later supported shoe and textile industry. A 45-letter joke name, Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, is also frequently used and is the longest place name in the United States (and contains the most uses of the letters "g" and "a" in any English word). Watch the sailboat races every Sunday in summer. Fish, swim or boat from the 17 mile shoreline the famous 1442 acre lake. Fishing is mostly for smallmouth bass, pickerel or perch. The town appropriates money for stocking the lake. The lake has excellent white sandy beaches. Point Breeze, Indian Inn, and Bates Grove are favorite picnic areas. There is a boat ramp at 98 Lakeside Ave.
- 2 Memorial Beach, 10 Memorial Beach Dr. Has a swim beach and boat docks. Website has list of fees.
- 3 Indian Ranch, 200 Gore Rd, ☏ +1 508-943-3871. Large concert venue and campground on a lake. Also runs the Indian Princess paddle boat at Pier #1.
- 2 Memorial Beach, 10 Memorial Beach Dr. Has a swim beach and boat docks. Website has list of fees.
- 4 Webster Fish & Game Associates, 91 Gore Road, ☏ +1 508-943-9806. Disc golf course
- 5 XTreme Lazer, 51 Thompson Rd, ☏ +1 508-949-2695. F 5–9 PM, Sa 11AM–9PM, Su noon–7 PM. Laser tag and arcade center
Buy
[edit]- 1 The Vault Adult Cannabis Dispensary, 70 Worcester Rd, Unit 225, Webster, ☏ +1 774-520-2420.
- 2 Booklover's Gourmet, 72 E Main St, ☏ +1 508-949-6232. M Tu Th-Sa 10AM-5PM, W 10AM-6PM, Su closed. A cozy bookstore with a cafe.
- 3 Flower Garden Florist & Gifts, 72 E Main St, ☏ +1 508-943-5800. M-F 9:30AM-4PM. Flower and gift shop
- 4 Brunello's Western Boots, 170 Thompson Rd, ☏ +1 774-334-2060. M-Sa noon-6PM, Su closed. Hand-crafted country western boots, hats, and accessories.
- 5 Varo's Fine Jewelry, 129 E Main St #7 (in East Main Plaza), ☏ +1 508-943-3150. Tu-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-3PM. Local jewelry store. Also does watch repair.
- 6 Orawa Bakery and Delicatessen, 60 E Main St, ☏ +1 508-949-0475. M 2–5PM, Tu-F 9AM–5PM, Sa 8AM–3PM, Su 8 AM–noon. Polish deli and bakery shop
- 7 Generations, 129 E Main (in East Main Plaza), ☏ +1 508-987-3310. Th-F 11AM-6PM, Sa 11AM-4PM. Woman-owned gift store
Eat
[edit]Lakefront
[edit]- 1 Point Breeze, 114 Point Breeze Rd, ☏ +1 508-943-0404. On a peninsula in the middle of Webster Lake, with a beautiful view of the water.
- 2 Lake Pizza & Restaurant, 39 Thompson Rd, ☏ +1 508-943-3684.
- 3 Waterfront Mary's 22, 103 Birch Island Rd (take Birch Island Rd off of Thompson Rd.; continue around the bend out onto the peninsula in Webster Lake. Turn onto Pavilion Ave, continue a short way and the restaurant will be on your left; if you are arriving via boat, the restaurant is at the northwest side of the lake, on the west side of the Narrows; the restaurant has piers at which you can dock), ☏ +1 508-943-2222. 11:30AM-11PM daily. Woman-owned waterfront bar and restaurant. Accessible via boat as well as by car. $10-$20.
Cafe and coffee
[edit]- 4 The Rose Room Cafe, 4 E Main St, ☏ +1 508-461-5344. 7AM-3PM daily. $20-$30.
- 5 Big Belly Cafe, 140 Gore Rd (MA Rt 16), ☏ +1 508-949-2433, [email protected]. M-W 7AM-2PM, Th F 7AM-8PM, Sa Su 7AM-1PM. Woman-owned cafe. Offers breakfast and lunch, and on Thursday and Friday also serves dinner. $10-20.
- 6 Cakettes, 294 Thompson Rd (MA Rt 193), ☏ +1 508-461-5555, [email protected]. Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM. Mini-cakes and coffee. Dine-in and take-out. $1-10.
Brunch and dinner
[edit]- 7 Mama's Kitchen, 595 S Main St, ☏ +1 508-461-7615. W-F 7:30AM-8PM, Sa Su 7:30AM-2PM, closed M and Tu. Serves home kitchen style breakfast-brunches and dinners; also has a bar
Bar and grill
[edit]- 8 Saloon No. 6, 141 Worcester Rd, ☏ +1 508-461-7216. Su-W 11:30AM-11PM, Th-Sa 11:30AM-midnight. Dine-in only bar and restaurant. Est. 2022. $20-30.
- 9 Bistro Eighty Ates, 172 Gore Rd (MA Rt 16), ☏ +1 508-949-8888, [email protected]. M-Th 4-9PM, F Sa 4-10PM, Su 10AM-9PM. $20-30.
- 10 Carly Restaurant & Bar, 267 Main St, ☏ +1 508-461-5066. Su-W 11AM-10PM, Th-Sa 11AM-midnight. Black woman-owned bar & grill specializing in Haitian fusion soul food. Dine-in as well as takeout and delivery. $10-$20.
African
[edit]- 11 Afro Fusion Restaurant, 548 S Main St, ☏ +1 508-461-6329. Su-Th 11:30AM-9:30PM, F Sa 11:30AM-10PM. Afro fusion cuisine. Black-woman-owned. $10-20.
Asian
[edit]- 12 Thai Lemongrass, 129 E Main St (it can be reached either by the East Main Plaza parking lot on E Main Str, or else from Emil St off of Rachicot St), ☏ +1 508-461-5388. Thai restaurant that offers dine-in and pick-up. $10-20.
- 13 Eastern Pearl, 290 Main St, ☏ +1 508-671-9288. M W Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-10PM, Tu closed. East Asian restaurant with both dine-in and pick-up
- 14 Himalaya Wok, 68 E Main St, ☏ +1 508-949-2420. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-10PM. Asian restaurant with dine-in and pick-up $10-20.
Pizza, Italian, and Mediterranean
[edit]- 15 Golden Greek, 156 Lake St Rear, ☏ +1 508-949-2240. M-Sa 11AM-9PM, Su 11AM-8PM. $10-20.
- 16 Monte Bianco Restaurant, 140 Main St, ☏ +1 508-461-5016. M closed; Tu W 3–9 PM; Th-F 11AM–2PM, 3–9PM; Sa 3–9PM; Su 1–7PM. Menu link: http://places.singleplatform.com/monte-bianco-restaurant/menu. Available for private reservations. $20-30.
- 17 Webster House of Pizza, 11 E Main St, ☏ +1 508-949-2593. M-Sa 11AM-10PM. $10-20.
- 18 Rainbow Pizza House, 81 Main St, ☏ +1 508-943-8672. Daily 11AM-9PM. $10-20.
- 19 Northeast Pizza, 29 Main St, ☏ +1 508-949-3409. M-Sa 11AM-9PM, Su closed. $10-20.
Mexican
[edit]- 20 Casa Laura Tacos, 131 Main St, ☏ +1 508-461-5049, [email protected]. Su-Th noon-9PM, F-Sa noon-10PM. Latin-American-owned. Reservations link: https://tmt.spotapps.co/reservations?spot_id=497389 $20-$30.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Polish American Citizen Club, 37 Harris St, ☏ +1 508-667-4988. M 5–10PM, Tu closed, W noon–10PM, Th noon–11PM, F Sa noon–1 AM, Su noon–10PM. Contains a full-service bar with beer, liquor, wine, and a draft selection. The venue also has a function hall that can be booked for events.
- 2 The Mill @ French River, 9 Frederick St, ☏ +1 508-461-5050. M-Th 3-9PM, F 3-11PM, Sa Su noon-11PM. Bar and event center located in a historic mill building.
- 3 Kosciuszko Society (Bush Hall), 10 Dresser St (take Lake St either westbound if of off Thompson Road, or east bound if off of Main St or S Main; Dresser St will be on the right if westbound, left if eastbound), ☏ +1 508-943-9863. A beer hall named after a hero of the American Revolution. $10-20.
- 4 The Swingin' Chicken, 138 Lake St, ☏ +1 508-461-6300. M-Th 3-11PM, F 3PM-1AM, Sa noon-1AM, Su noon-11PM. Bar with dine-in and takeout food options. Open late.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Wrecked At Ron's, Webster Lake, 2 S Point Rd, ☏ +1 978-514-5624. Lakefront rental vacation homes. You can also book boats provided by the facility. Prices vary based on seasonality and the type of rental.
There also are a handful of AirBnB listings for Webster.
Cope
[edit]- 1 Gladys E. Kelly Public Library, 2 Lake St, ☏ +1 508-949-3880, [email protected]. Local library. Useful for genealogical research and for postings of local events, venues, contact persons, and activities.
- 2 Lakeview Marine, 311 Thompson Rd (MA Rt 193), ☏ +1 508-461-6020. Tu-F 9AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-3PM. Lakeview Marine is a boat dealer that also provides paddle-sport and kayak rentals. They also have a life jacket loaner program for children's life jackets for cases where families discover that a life jacket does not fit their child(ren).
Go next
[edit]Visit Worcester to take in a baseball game, a museum, or see a concert, explore nearby Putnam and Connecticut's Quiet Corner, or experience early 19th-century New England at Old Sturbridge Village.
| Routes through Webster |
| Worcester ← Oxford ← | N  S
|
→ Putnam → Norwich |
| END ← | W  E
|
→ Junction  → Milford
|
| Worcester ← Oxford ← | N  S
|
→ Putnam → Junction 
|
| END ← | N  S
|
→ Dudley → Junction with 
|
| END ← | N  S
|
→ Junction with  → Thompson
|